Darkness Fell

Darkness Fell
written by Chris Baker

Today is Good Friday! What could be good about the brutal torture and death of Jesus? Take a moment and read John 19:28-30. Jesus accomplished all that He came to accomplish. He fulfilled the Scripture, completed the will of His Father, was obedient to death and now it was over. Jesus gave up His Spirit when all was accomplished. 

For many of us we know that Sunday is coming. We know that Jesus will soon rise from the dead early Sunday morning, but the disciples did not realize that at the time! For the disciples, this is a very dark time indeed. Take a moment and read Mark 15:33-38. Mark says that darkness came over the whole land surrounding the time of His death. That must have been some sight! Matthew 27 describes darkness falling,  Jesus cries out to the Father for the last time, Jesus gives up His Spirit, there is a violent earth quake which splits the curtain in two found in the holiest part of the Temple (where God’s Spirit had dwelt now symbolizing that God’s Spirit would now dwell in the heart of the Believer) and the Roman guards witnessing this are now convinced they killed the Son of God! There was a lot going on that night. However, for the disciples, it was as if the darkness never lifted from that night.

The disciples are convinced their Messiah, their Lord, is dead. This must have been an extremely dark, scary, depressing time for them. Some of us may find ourselves in a dark place today. We feel as though the darkness has not lifted. Where is God? I feel abandoned, lonely, disappointed, less than, confused, isolated, and so on. Do you find yourself in the darkness of Good Friday today? Take heart, the darkness will lift! 

Jesus will rise to life in just three short days! New life is coming. Hope is on the way. Fear of death and slavery to sin are now extinguished, forever stripped of their power! Freedom is at hand. Please dear friend, do not dwell in the darkness, come into the light of the Resurrection. The Resurrection changes everything! 

Scripture says that we too can put the old man, our old nature, to death on the cross and be resurrected with Christ Jesus into the newness of life. You can rise a completely different person with a new heart that is set apart for the Lord. You too can have His resurrection power within you through the power of the Holy Spirit! 

Jesus made this new life available to us through His sacrifice on the cross. Therefore, do not continue to dwell in the darkness but come into the light of the Resurrection!  Begin a relationship with Jesus today and experience the newness of life found only in Christ Jesus our Lord!